Quick take: The Canon PowerShot V1 has become my favorite camera, and these accessories round out my kit for YouTube and TikTok: the 3 Legged Thing Ellie L-bracket (since there was no cage yet), the Tilta tabletop tripod with an extending center column, Canon's multi-function shoe mic or the Godox Cube-C wireless lav, a flash setup via Canon's multi-function shoe adapter, Llano USB-C batteries, and the Tilta Hydra self-regulating car mount. Update: V1 cages are now available. See my Tilta, Yanzu and SmallRig cage reviews.
1. L-Bracket
Why an L-bracket and not a cage? At the time, nobody made a cage for the V1, which is odd for a video-centric camera that shoots 10-bit Canon Log 3 and color matches perfectly with Canon's cinema cameras. SmallRig told me they had no plans for one.
I use the 3 Legged Thing Ellie L-bracket because its side section extends, so it fits almost any camera and you won't waste money when a cage arrives. It lets you mount the camera vertically without the awkward 90-degree drop on most tripods, which often won't sit level and can tip lightweight tripods over. It also adds mounting options and doesn't block the flip screen.
Downsides: I lose my Peak Design Capture clip, it doesn't have a 1/4" thread on the bottom, and when pressed against the body it blocks the mic and headphone port doors, so you have to loosen it to reach them. It cost about $75 at my camera store, and after a lot of research, it's the only L-bracket I found that works well with this camera.
2. Tilta Tabletop Tripod
Tilta gear is reliably well built and reliably expensive. This tripod was about $110 with the center column, and that column is what makes it special. Most tabletop tripods are too short. This one is carbon fiber, lighter and taller than my old go-to, and the extending column takes it to eye level or even overhead.
Splay the legs out and it becomes a very stable base, even on a crooked table, with no worry about tipping. It packs down small into its bag and includes an Arca-Swiss plate. Together, the L-bracket and this tripod solve basically every mounting problem, and they'd make a great gift for any V1 owner.
3. Microphones
The V1 has a good onboard mic and a wind muff that slides into the multi-function shoe, but here are two upgrades depending on what you shoot.
Canon's multi-function shoe mic: It plugs straight into the shoe with no cables. I used it for my camera expo vlog, and set to its 120-degree pickup mode it sounded great in a crowded room. It also offers shotgun and 90-degree modes. It's comically large for this camera, but I use it on my Canon R5 C for clients too.
Godox Cube-C wireless lav: Tiny, discreet transmitters, quick setup, a necklace mount I love, a natural-sounding noise cancelling button and about 10 hours of battery. They're smaller than DJI's mics and don't carry a giant logo, and I like the sound better. My one wish is onboard backup recording. Read my full Godox Cube-C review for the range test.
4. Flash
The V1 is a phenomenal photo camera with a Micro Four Thirds-class sensor that beats the G7 X Mark III's, but it has no built-in flash or standard hot shoe. To use a flash, you need Canon's multi-function shoe adapter, about $50. If you own other Canon bodies with the multi-function shoe, you may already have one. The extra height also keeps the lens from blocking light from small flashes on wide shots.
For a simple on-camera flash, I like Zeniko's: cheap, powerful and USB-C rechargeable. But I'm a portrait snob who loves off-camera flash, so I use the Lightpix Labs FlashQ. It tilts to bounce off walls and ceilings, gives you the popular direct-flash look and works off camera with a 1/4" thread for a light stand. My Mark II charges over micro USB, so get the Mark III, which has USB-C.
5. Llano USB-C Charge Kit
Llano's enclosed kit keeps batteries organized and charges over USB-C. Even better, its aftermarket batteries have their own USB-C ports, so you can skip the case and just charge the battery directly from a power bank. Aftermarket batteries never quite match the originals, but the whole kit costs about the same as one OEM battery.
Bonus: Tilta Hydra Car Mount
I record in my car sometimes, and the Tilta Hydra is an electronic, self-regulating suction mount. With manual pump mounts, you have to watch for the red indicator and re-pump or your camera falls while you're driving. The Hydra keeps its suction on its own, so I can focus on driving instead of worrying about my $1,000 camera. A remote is available separately.
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